Universal shaft-coupling.



IVI. C. CHRISTENSEN.

UNIVERSAL SHAFT COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED MAR, 30, 1914. l y @,FI@ lalrvnfmIJlme Iiv 12H5.

3 sHEETs-sHEET/KL mi@ as f IMU N1. C. CHRISTENSEN.

UNIVERSAL SHAFT CGUPLNG.

APPucATloN mso MAR.30.1914.

Pnoulod une 8, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Ri C

Ml C. CHRiSTENSEN.

UNIVERSAL SHAFT couPLiNG.

Paentedjune 8, 1915.1

vMONS, C. CHRISTENSEN, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

n UNIVERSAL SHAFT-COUPLING.

.To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, MONS C. CHnrsTnN- .sEN, a citizen of the UnitedIStates 'of America, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook,State of Illinois, have in# vented certain new and useful -Improvementsin Universal Shaft- Couplings,` of

. which the following is a specification.

y f This invention is of the -spheroidal type of universal shaftcouplings, and has for its object to provide asimple 'and eiicientstructural formation and combination of parts adapted to permit therequired range of swinging movement of one shaftsection with relation tothe other, with the maintenance of a strong driving connection tween theparts.

. Another Objectis to provide an ecient combiifiation and arrangement ofparts wherein the universal coupling is adapted for effective use in thedriving connections of a pivotally adjustable driving wheel of a motorvehicle or the like. All asl will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure'al, 1s a view, partly 1nsect1on,'1llustratmg the .general arrangement Aof parts in which thepresent coupling,r is used as a part of the.

driving mechanism o a pivotallymounted driving wheel of a motor vehicle,the hubs" of the Wheels and the fixed axle on which they are mounted,being shown. Fig. 2. is a detail plan view of the linclosing,f shell orcasing and its accessories, of the universal coupling'. Fig. 3, is adetail horizontal section on line .fr-w, Fig. 1. Fig. l-,is an enlargeddetail vertical section, on line. wr-,

.i 15g. 5, showing the arrangement and Connection of the universalcoupling to a wheel. huh, and the supporting, adjusting and drivingconnections thereof. F ig. 5, is a rear elevation of the same with themain aXle in section. Fig. 6, isla longitudinal sec .tional elevationoli the universal coupling.

Fig. 7, is a transverse section, on line :r2-m2, Fig.` 6. p

Similar reference numerals indicate like Y parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, l and 2, represent the ends of two sectionsof shafting to which are attached the respective outer and inner members3 and 4 of the presenty universal coupling, and which in theA prcsentimprovement haven detail construction as follows: The outer couplingmember 3, comprises a main v.section or head 5,1of a Specicatipn ofLetters Patent,

Application led March 3l), 1914. Serial No. 828,327.

Patented June 8, 1915.`

semi-spherical yform, provided with'a cen-` tral huborboss 6, for theattachment lof the.

j"section 1 of shafting''and a removable cap -Qbr section 7, of a'.semi-spherical form and having a central flowing openin 8 for the theeoscillatory movement of vthe section'2 di shafting which passes throughsaid opening. The hub`5 and cap 7 Iare secured together byconnecting'bolts 5 9, passingA throughI marginal flanges ontherespectivev parts, or by any other well known 'and suit- .ablefastening means. The inner coupling member 4, comprises a sphericallyformed head, attached in anyusual and suitable manner on the end of thesection 2 of shafting, and corresponding in size and disposed Y withinthe abovedescribed spherical cavity of the hub 5 and cap 7. In thevpresent improvement; the periphery'of the head of the inner couplingmember 4 vis formed with a series of longitudinally' disposed channels10, preferably four in number, andl equally.'

spaced in a 'transverse direction around 'the periphery'o the head ofthe coupling" mem- -ber 4, aforesaid. The innerA wall of4 the sphericalVcavity of the outer coupling member 3, is formed with a companionseries of longitudinally disposedv channels 11. adapt# ed toreeisterwith the channels 10 above described.

12 are individual balls or spheresdisnosed the section 1 of sh'aftine'and with the outer.,

member 3. of the coiiplifng,aforesaid and is also formed with anv innercentral chamber 15 in which the universal coupling and its hereinafterdescribed accessories are arranged midway the length of the hub, 'andlot with an. annular chamber 16,'y formed asa ball race, and -adaptedtoreceive a nonrevoluble companion member oi a ball-beal'-,

ing by which the hub is revoluloly4 mounted, and which non-revol'ublemember consists of an annular ring 17, rectanamlar inhcrcssn section,and formed with.annulary grooves in its opposite faces the hub,abovereferred to.

For convenience in 4assemblage of the ball Z bearing parts, justdescribed, the wheel hulfi f vide bearings is made in two parts andbolted together as" f inwardly from shown in Figi Ll.

19 is the fixed axle of a'vehicle, upon the' ends of which- Vthe pairofwheel hubs 13 aforesaid are pivotally mounted by means as follows: 20 isa vertically disposed cylindrical casing attached to van end of theaxle4 ,19, by hubs 2.1, or

other usual attaching means. Said casing is formed with top and bottomheads having central oriiices to profor the pair of radially opposedjournal shafts or trunnions 22 by which the ball-bearing ring 17, above.described, is pivotally connected to said casing 20. At one side saidcylindrical casing l 20,is formed with an enlarged opening 23,

I of the universal coupling.

"arm or lever liXed on one for the free movement of the outer member.Qa-is a steering of the radial journal shafts or trunnions 22, toprovide meansy for effecting the required adjustment of the wheel hub ina horizontal plane.

ln the construction shown in the drawings, the section 1 of sliaftingcarrying the inner member l of the universal coupling is journaled in acentral Vhorizontal bearing sleeve 25 ofthe casing 20, andjs provided atone end with a worm wheel 26, or other usual means for operativeconnection with the power mechanism of'a motor vehicle.

' have pivotal movement 27 is a semi-cylindrical casing provided withtop and bottoin heads 28 and 219, which inI turn are provided withcentral orifices adapted to encircle the radial journal shafts ortrunnions 22, aforesaid and wheel hub Zontal plane and along with theAnd to 13 in the adjustment of the same.

such end, 'the vertical wall of -said casing 27 is formed with anaperture to receive' the hub portion of the outer coupling member 3adjacent to the outer/endwcb lll ofthe hub.-

'fn the preferred construction shown in Fig. 4,. the lcasing 27 isadapted to have bearing upon the vperiphery of the non revoluble casing20, aforesaid, as well as upon. the top and bottoni heads of said casing20, with a view to attain maximum l rigidity between the parts in actualuse.

i-lavingthus fully described my said inventi'on,` what I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

l. The combination of a vehicle axle, a

- vertically arranged cylindrical casing se said axle and having top Acured on an end of 'and bottom heads and an open vertical Wall,

Corresponding annular -of the uniyersal coupling v chamber mid-length ofthe nions, substantially thereon in ahorito 'the point of said hubportion e cured onen-end of maarre a driving shaft journaled in saidcasing and carrying one member of a universal cou pling, a receivingouter end web carrying the other member b ub, an annular ring havingbearing in said annular chamber, a series of radial trunnions extendingsaid annular ringV and having bearing in the cylindrical casing aforesaid, and a steering. arni iXedly secu-red to one of said trunnions,substantially as set forth. l

2. The combination of a' vehicle axle, a vertically arranged cylindricalcasing secured on am end; ofvsaid axle and having ltop and bottom headslanden open verticali wallpa driving shaft journaled in said casing andcarrying one-member of a universal coupling, a wheel hub having 'acentral cavity receiving the vertical casing aforesaid, an outer end webcarrying the other member of the universal coupling and annular chamber'mid-length of the hub, an

and an annular annular ring disposed in said annular chainber, theopposed faces of the ring and. the chamberbeing formed with ball races,a series of balls in said races, trunnions extending inwardly 'from saidannular ring and having bearing in the cylindrical casing aforesaid, anda steering' arm fixedly secured to one of saidw'zrndl asset forth.-

3. The combination ofa vehicle aisle, a vertically arranged 'cylindricalcasing secured on an end of sa-id anleand having top and bottom headsandan open vertical wall, a driving shaft journaled in said casingl andcarrying one member' of a 'universalfcoupling, awheel hub having a'central cavity receiving the vertical casing' aforesaid, an outer endweb carrying the other member ofthe universal coupling and an annularchamber' midlength ofthe hub, an annular ring having bearing in saidannular chainber, a semi-cylindrical casing fitting the ei:- terior ofsaid cylindrical casing and aff tached to the wheel hub, a series ofradial trunnions extending inwardlyA aforesaid' annular ring throughvthe semi cylindrical Leasing and having bearings in the cylindricalcasing, and a steering arm fixedly secured to one 'of said 'trunnionasubstantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a vehicle arde, a vertically arranged cylindricalcasing sesaid axle and having top and bottom heads and an open verticalwall, a driving shaft journaled in said'casing and carrying one memberof a universal coupling, a wheelliub having a central cavity receivingthe vertical casing aforesaid, an outer end web carrying the othermember of the universal c'oupling"and an annular from the Y icc chambermid-length of the hub, an annularl ring disposed in said annularchamber, the opposite faces of the ring and the chamber being formedWith hall-races, a. series of balls in said races, a, semi-cylindricalcasing fitting the exterior of said cylindrical casing f and attached tothe Wheel hub, a series of radial trunnions extending inwardly from..

the aforesaid annular rin'g through th 10 semircylindricel casing andhaving bearings in the cylindrical casing, and a steering arm xedlysecured to one of said trunnions, substantially as set forth.

Si ed at Chicago, Illinois, this 26th. day of arch 1914. I

MONSl C.. CHRISTENSEN.'

